Help us test the latest beta of Beyond TV. Just happened to notice this today. Snapstream has a beta version of Beyond TV that supports recording via Clear QAM. Finally! And I was ready to dump my Hauppauge tuner card back on Ebay. This is exciting news as the occasional signal outages that occur with OTA broadcasts have been forcing me to consider erecting a roof antenna, which carries its own set of challenges. As soon as the Lost season finale is recorded tomorrow night, I plan to install the beta on the DVR and rewire the cable control panel. Yum.

With movie ticket prices rising, get the most for your money. AMC theaters increased ticket prices this weekend in several markets. At the First Colony 24, the regular matinee increased from $7 to $7.25. A full price adult ticket currently runs $9.25. I see from the Daily News article that the matinee price at my old fave in Cobble Hill has increased from $5 to $6.50 since I left NY two years ago.

Finished season 4 of The Wire last night, the best one so far. The opening theme for this season is also my favorite, followed by the original. A friend asked me to describe the show, and words can barely do it justice. Rich character development, superb writing, thought-provoking issues. I am embarrassed that I even mentioned Law and Order in the same conversation. After watching The Wire, I cannot help thinking that all other shows are crap. That is how good it is.

So what is not to like? The slang, difficult to keep up with at times, caused me to watch with subtitles. Whatever. The DVD box sets are rather pricy, which makes this series the perfect rental candidate for Netflix. According to my records, I blew through all four seasons in three months at an approximate rate of two discs per week. Can't wait to get my hands on season 5 (Aug 12 DVD release).

National Power to forgo increase, keep rate at 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. National Power Co tried to hike rates for fixed rate customers, and then changed its mind after chatting with the PUC. I was considering NPC as a supplier a while back, but I imagine this incident is going to be a business killer. Current variable rates are sky high, and I am not looking forward to the end of my fixed rate this summer (12.9c/Kwh for 100% renewable!).

PUC spokesman Terry Hadley said the commission isn't ready to conclude its investigation just yet. And the commission hasn't returned National Power's offers to the powerto choose.org consumer Web site, after dropping the company on Wednesday.

Analysts speculate that the U.S. government has dodged calls for prosecution of Posada for fear he would disclose details of CIA involvement in coups, assassination plots and scandals, including the Iran-Contra Affair.